Before Miami ascended to the No. 2 ranking on Sunday, Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal expressed one wish after Saturday’s 26-7 win over Florida.
“We don’t get to play these guys again. This game should be on the schedule every year. It is a shame that it isn’t,” Cristobal said in the postgame press conference. “We want to make sure we took advantage of the opportunity.”
Miami and Florida have played regularly since 1938, but the series could go on hiatus again because of the SEC’s expansion. The Hurricanes and Gators have played nine times since 2000 after no meetings during the 1990s.
“The team got word that this is the last regular season game scheduled for a while,” Cristobal said. “They have bragging rights forever. We have been able to maintain home victory streak against them since the 1970s.”
“That is really significant. You don’t want to be the team that gave that one away. We just played for each other. They understand the importance of the rivalry. There is bad blood, but there is also respect,” Cristobal added.
Miami and Florida played a home-and-home series, and the Hurricanes took the first game last year, 41-17, in Gainesville. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series 31-27.
“In the locker room, those guys are pretty fired up. This game means a lot to us and our alumni and the fanbase,” Cristobal said. “We always felt that they are a talented team with a lot of good players.”
“They have been a play or two away from being really good. Our guys kept their composure when we got in a rut with the offense,” he added. “The defense played off the charts football again.”
Canes’ Running Backs Shine
Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck didn’t have a great performance, but Miami leaned on running backs Mark Fletcher and CharMar Brown instead. Fletcher had 24 carries for 116 yards and a touchdown, and Brown rushed for 80 yards and two scores amid 18 attempts.
“Those two guys are extremely physical and they are diligent about their craft,” Cristobal said. “They will put their pads down and get the bloody yards. Florida plays a lot of guys in the box.”
“They bring a lot of pressures and stem from four-down to odd. It will be different looks and typically there is an extra hat that ends up in the box,” he added. “They did a good job of getting those muddy yards after contact. They did a good job of getting ten, 12, and 14 yard gains and got separation towards the end.”
Miami Coach Mario Cristobal Sends Message Ahead of No. 2 Ranking